Shooting Wildlife is Not the Answer!
By: Ashley Kinney
Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor
Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley
The Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley has experienced an abnormal volume of wildlife falling victim to pellet
guns. Over the past four weeks WCSV has received over 10 cases of animals shot with pellets. Species include
Peregrine Falcon, American Crows, Herring Gull, Eastern Fox Squirrel and multiple Rock Pigeons; all except the
Peregrine Falcon, came from different areas in the Silicon Valley.
Whenever we receive a patient that has been shot, we have to wonder why. It’s difficult to understand why
someone would go to such an extreme measure and intentionally harm or kill a wild animal. Why can’t they see
that each animal plays a vital role within its ecosystem? While there are often underlying “nuisance” issues at
play, the real question is: Will shooting them really solve the problem?? The answer is NO! Ironically, when
people attempt to control wildlife populations, or simply remove one individual at a time, there are always
unforeseen and adverse effects including overpopulation of certain species. These animals do not exist within a
vacuum - what we do to one effects the whole - so we
must do all we can to protect our native wildlife.
Over the years human’s encroachment in rural areas
is having a negative effect towards wildlife; causing wild
animals to disperse and seek shelter in places where we
generally do not think wildlife can thrive, meaning we are
witnessing large populations of many different species in
our own backyards. The removal of these animals by any
means including shooting will not solve any wildlife
Peregrine falcon with shattered humerus due to pellet shot.
problems. These animals are opportunistic - attracted to
our living spaces simply because we are providing means for their survival in a variety of ways. So what is the
solution you ask? Sustainable, long-lasting solutions are humane deterrents that will get at the root of the
problem rather than only temporarily covering it up.
Let’s take a moment to imagine the life of a Cooper’s hawk. As a Cooper’s hawk, your natural diet is birds.
This is the food you need to eat and feed to your young to survive. You see some feathered prey walking around
in a small-open area, and you think “SCORE! Easy meal!” You start to take flight towards what happens to be a
chicken coop and all of a sudden…BANG!! You feel sharp, hot pain and fall to the ground unable to fly or move
at all. You are left to die because you were searching for food, and the food you found was easy to get to.
Does not seem right does it?
Before you think about shooting an animal because it
appears to be a “nuisance,” let’s try to solve the real issue at
hand - why is this animal coming into your yard? What is it
attracted to?
Rock Pigeon with metal opacity in keel
The information below contains humane deterrent
options for species we’ve treated recently. If you have
questions about these or any others, please call or visit our
website.
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Common reasons crows are shot:
1.
Destroying gardens
2.
Overpopulations in certain neighborhoods
3.
Loud!
Preventative measures to take:
1.
Block or limit access to any food in your yard, including access to garbage.
2.
Use hot pepper spray and/or motion censored sprinklers in areas where crows are pecking at the
ground.
3.
Place scare crow in larger garden plots that you can move around frequently (daily).
4.
Sudden loud noises at irregular intervals my help keep large flocks from getting too comfortable.
Common reasons raptors are shot:
1.
Protecting chicken/pigeon coops, dogs and small livestock
Preventative measures to take:
1.
Dog runs for small dogs that have to be outside
unattended
2.
Chicken or pigeon coops reinforced with “double-wall”—
these coops have at least an inch gap between the
external hardware cloth barrier and the second internal
hardware cloth barrier to keep birds safe if a predator
with long, sharp talons tries to reach a bird inside the
coop.
Common reasons Band-tailed Pigeons and Rock Pigeons are shot:
1.
Overpopulated areas
2.
Large accumulation of feces
3.
Roosting on homes/sheds
Preventative measures to take:
Red-shouldered hawk with metal opacity in
1.
Do not provide a source of food (including cat food)
right shoulder
2.
Create barriers: slides, bird spikes, and proper fencing can
help keep pigeons from populating a variety of areas
a.
Resources: www.birdbarrier.com and www.birdbgone.com
Common reasons squirrels are shot:
1.
Destroying gardens
2.
Overpopulations
3.
Chewing on housing structure, wires and fencing
Preventative measures to take:
1.
Chewing/Eating/Digging deterrents
a. Create barriers: Enclosing the wire in PVC pipe or flexible steel conduit; create “cage” out of
hardware cloth to protect small plants; wrap base of tree in sheet metal.
b. Taste Aversion: Hot Pepper Spray—recipe found at www.wcsv.org
c. DO NOT provide food
i. Keep bird feeders out of area, or make sure that no seed is falling and squirrels can’t
access them
ii. Pick up ripe fallen fruit
iii. Avoid handouts to any wildlife
iv. Use barriers and hot pepper spray to keep them from eating garden items in your yard
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The Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley encourages everyone to take a step back and appreciate the wildlife
that surrounds us. Learn to enjoy the intelligent American Crow roosting in your neighborhood, watch the
Peregrine Falcon dive at 200 miles per hour, and learn to laugh about gulls arguing with one another over food.
These animals are all different and wonderful in their own ways, and each species is vital to the ecosystem. The
WCSV would like to help discourage illegal shootings of our local wildlife and help you understand that there are
other options!
Remember: Shooting native wildlife is against the law! Native animals are protected under state and
federal laws. Shooting or killing a wild animal without possessing appropriate permits can and will lead to fines
and or jail time.
Take a stand today!! Please join the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley and help stop illegal shooting of local
wildlife! If you witness someone shooting wildlife in your neighborhood please do not hesitate to call local law
enforcement and or animal control agencies. Together we can make a difference!
For more information visit our website at www.wcsv.org or call 408-929-WILD
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